Ball perforator



July 2, 1963 w. F. BRADBURY 3,096,015

BALL PERFORATOR Filed Jan. 27, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mTE1 "8 INVENTORvI28 WILBURN F. BRADBURY July 2, 1963 w. F. BRADBURY 3,096,015

BALL PERFORATOR Filed Jan. 27, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 QY/AMM 7W INVENTOR.WILBURN F. BRADBURY BYyf/Mw yf July 2, 1963 Filed Jan 27,

W. F. BRADBURY BALL PERFORATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 SIGNAL LINE RECEIVINGMECHANISM INVENTOR WILBURN F BRADBURY B MWW ATTORNEY5 United StatesPatent 3,G96,015 BALL PERFQRATGR Wilburn F. Bradbury, Northbrook, 111.,assignor to SCM Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 27,1960, Ser. No. 4,916 29 (Ilaims. (Cl. 234-107) This invention relates toa high speed perforator using ball type punches and adapted to punch ontape or other record media, coded or uncoded data, from high speedsystems such as calculators, business machines, computers andtelegraphic systems.

For some time interested segments of industry have been experimentingwith code punching devices in an effort to produce a simplified machinecapable of attaining very high speeds and at the same time realizing anextensive reduction in manufacturing costs. Many perforators in usetoday frequently employ highly complicated cam elements, involvedlinkage arrangements and close tolerance punch and die systems. Sucharrangements in most cases place limits on the operation speed andalways create high manufacturing costs due to complex and criticalmachining problems.

The use of electro-magnets as punch selection control components inpunching mechanisms is well known. Also, the use of the steel ball as apunching medium is known but not widely utilized. However, the combinedassociation of these two mechanisms creates a structural and functionalperforating and control mechanism not previously known.

In the present invention, a series of punch actuating levers aremechmically retained, against a biasing force, by correlated actionbetween a cycle cam and a series of individual punch lever latch membersconstituting pivoted armatures associated with individual selectorelectro-magnets.

When the selected electro-magnets are energized by electric impulses ofa received coded signal combination, their armatures (the punch leverlatching members) move upward, unblocking the path of movement ofselected punch levers, enabling them to pivot under spring bias, whenreleased by the cycle cam, to perform the punching operation. An instantafter the punching operation has been performed, the selected punchlevers are returned to the reset or start position by cam means readyfor the next code signal combination which will set the cycle in motiononce again.

As will be noted, no specific receiving circuit for the selector magnetsis shown inasmuch as any well known mechanical or electronic receivingapparatus can be used to energize the selector magnets, and too, thereceiving circuitry actually does not form a per se part of the subjectmatter of the present invention.

Accordingly, a principal object of this invention is the provision of amultiple punch ball type perforator capable of very high speeds.

Another object is to provide a high speed punching apparatus with aplurality of selector magnets which, when energized by code signals,retain any unselected code punch levers throughout the punching cycleand permit release of the selected punch levers allowing them toaccomplish a punching cycle.

A further object resides in the provision of a high speed punchingapparatus with a plurality of closely adjacent side by side punches anda plurality of similarly shaped code punch levers, all interchangeable(except for the feed hole punch lever and the tape feed lever).Identical selecting levers permit not only case of interchangeabilitybut enable lower production and maintenance costs as well.

Another object in connection with the preceding object resides in theprovision of identical impact transfer members also interchangeable(except for the feed holepunch impact transfer member which is smallerin diameter). Still another object in connection with the two precedingobjects is the provision of relatively inexpensive identical steel ballsused to actually punch the holes. These, too, are interchangeable(excluding again the feed hole punching ball which is slightly smallerin diameter).

Further novel features and other objects of this invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, discussion and theappended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsshowing a preferred structure and embodiment, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective of punching mechanism in accordwith the principles of this inven tion, illustrating only two of theeight sets of electromagnets and armature latches; code punch levers, animpact transfer member and a steel punching ball. Also shown is the feedhole punch lever and the tape feed lever. The remaining sets, variousbearings, spring anchors and fixed support structure are not necessaryfor an understanding of the invention and are omitted to enable clarityof disclosure.

FIGURE 2 is a somewhat schematic top view illustrating the compactelectro-magnet arrangement, associated armature latch levers (some ofwhich are partially broken away) and the upper tips of the code levers;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail section through the punch and dieassembly illustrating the relationship between the steel punch ball andthe die cutting hole;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed perspective view showing the upper ends of thecode levers, an electro-magnet and the different shapes of the ends ofright and left hand armature latch levers;

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 represent operational front elevation views of thecode punching apparatus, FIGURE 5 illustrating the code punch levers inthe unselected or latched position an instant before a code group signalhas been received by the electro-magnets, FIGURE 6 illustrating oneselected lever performing the actual punching of the code hole in a tapewhile an unselected lever is held in a non-punching position, instantlyafter the code group signal has been received by the electromagnets, thecam being in the first one quarter of its revolution, and FIGURE 7illustrating the code punch levers in the reset position an instantafter the reset cam has cammed the selected punch leverscounterclockwise causing them to again be latched by the electromagnetarmature-latches, the cam having completed one half of a completerevolution;

FIGURE 8 is a front elevation of the feed hole punching mechanism,showing its shorter punch lever and its relationship to the reset cam;

FIGURE 9 is a front elevation of the tape feed lever an instant after ithas been positively shifted by a lobe of the feed cam and the associatedfeed pawl has engaged the feed ratchet and sprocket to perform a tapefeeding operation;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged front elevation view of the code levers,latches and cam to show relative shapes and cooperative positions; and

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic representation of the electrical connectionsbetween a receiving mechanism to a signal line and to the start andpunch selector electromagnets of the reperforator.

The exemplary mechanism used herein to describe an operative embodimentof the present invention is an eightcode tape perforator having eightcode punch levers, one feed punch lever and a punch and die grouparrangement with eight ball type code punches and one ball type feedpunch. An electro-magnet with an armature latch is provided for each ofthe code punch levers. More or less sets of punch levers and associatedpunches and magnets can be utilized in accord with a desired punchingoperation.

Referring to the drawings for a specific description,

FIGURE 1 illustrates the basic components of a telegraphic messagereceiving tape perforator 10, parts being broken away and only two setsof eight sets of code hole punching components being shown. The mannerof arranging compact organization of eight sets of code hole punchingcomponents to obtain a standardized lateral spacing between adjacentholes in a coded tape is illustrated by the top plan view of FIGURE 2.

Reperforator is to be used with a plurality of electric circuits whichprovide paths for a simultaneous, coded electric signal combination. Tothis end, a receiving mechanism 11 of a suitable type, shown in blockdiagram in FIGURE 11, can be used to receive a sequential codedelectrical signal combination and transform it to a code combination ofsimultaneous electrical signals through plural circuits to the controlcomponents of the reperforator 10.

The selector mechanism 11 imparts a start impulse signal eithersimultaneously with the sending of the code group impulses or after avery slight delay. Various electro-magnets in the reperforator 10 areenergized by the impulse signals to initiate and control reperforatoraction.

Reperforator 10 includes a plurality of punch selecting electro-magnets12, each of which has a U-shaped fiat bridge 14 of magnetizable materialarranged in vertical planar form, the two arms 16 and 29 of the U-bridgebeing projected downwardly. One varm 16 of bridge 14 serves as themagnet core and carries a relatively fiat winding coil 18 as depicted inFIGURE 2. i The second bridge arm 29 is somewhat longer than arm 16 andis apertured and mounted on a shaft 22 made of a nonmagnetizablematerial. Pivotally mounted on shaft 22 and preferably separated fromits associated bridge arm by a washer 24- (FIGURE 2) of magnetizablematerial is a lever shaped armature member 26 or 28 also made ofmagnetizable material to provide a continuous magnetic flux path fromthe apertured end of bridge arm into armature 26 or 28. e

. Each electro-magnet bridge 14 and its associated armature member 26 or28 is maintained in a specific spaced apart relationship on the shaft 22by suitable dielectric spacer sleeves 30 and the electro-magnet mountingshafts 22 are secured in the reperforator frame structure which isrepresented by vertical Wall 32. A further non-magnetizable shaft 34extends through each bridge 14 of each set of bridges, is secured inframe 32 and carries dielectric spacer sleeves 36 to help maintain theproper position and spacing between adjacent bridges. Allelectromagnets, being mounted with their arms 16 and 20 in verticaldisposition, include downwardly facing pole faces 38 on core arms 16.

Armature members 26 and 28 are disposed to cooperate with and will serveto latch associated, selected punch operating levers 40, equal in numberto the number of selector magnets 12. Each of levers 49 is identical inconstruction. Because of the structural nature of the punch operatinglevers 40 and their mounting as a single group, the armatures 26 of theleft hand group of selector magnets '12 have different shaped latchingends than do the armatures -28 of the right hand group of selectormagnets, hence the use of different reference numerals for the armaturesof the two groups. Each of the left hand armatures 26 includes a hookedfinger 42 which extends horizontally from the armature pole face overthe upper end. 44 of an associated punch lever 40. A biasing spring 46,anchored to fixed structure (notshown) connects to a short arm 48 onarmature 26 to pivotally bias the associated armature toward a latchingposition away from its selector magnet pole face. Each of the right handarmatures 28 includes an abutment finger 50 which extends horizontallyfrom the armature pole face to a position adjacent the upper end 44' ofan associated punch lever and an individual biasing spring 46' anchoredto fixed structure (not shown) connects to a short arm 48 on armature 2%to pivotally bias the associated armature toward a latching positionaway from its selector magnet pole face.

All punch operating levers 40, which will be next described, have theirupper ends44 biased toward the right, as viewed in FIGURES 1' and 4-7,and each lever end 44 has a right hand vertical latching face 52. In thestart condition of the machine 10 (FIGURE 1) none of the selectingmagnets 12 is energized and all punch -operating levers 40 will be heldin a non-selected positheir associated punch operating levers 40. Amechanical limit stop determines the spring biased latching position ofthe armatures and, as shown, such a stop can take the form of a bentabutment lug 54 on the armature arms 48 to engage the back edge ofbridge arms 26*. The enlarged FIGURE 10 illustrates the latchingpositions of the two diiferent shapes of armatures and it will be seenthat in a start position the latching fingers of the armatures 26 and 28are spaced from the latching faces on the ends of the punch operatinglevers 40 by a slight clearance, approximating .005 to .010". Thus aselector magnet 12, when energized, need only be strong enough to liftthe associated armature against its biasing spring force and will nothave to overcome any friction of an actual latching engagement betweenthe fingers 42 and 50 and the punch operating lever faces 52.

When any selecting magnet 12 is energized, its associated armature 26 or28 will pivot toward the magnet pole face and lift the latching finger42 or 50 to a position above and out of the path of possible movement ofthe upper end 44 of punch operating levers 40.

Each punch operating lever 40 is a long flat lever with an aperturedlower end 56 and having its upper end 44 shaped with a fiat latchingface 52, as aforedescribed, on one side edge and a curved camming face57 on the other side to enable ease in resetting movement. A mountingrod 58, secured inthe machine frame wall 32, extends through theapertured ends 56 of all punch operating levers to pivotally mount suchlevers as a group below their associated selector magnet latchingarmatures 26 and 28. Suitable spacers on the rod 58 maintain properspacing between levers 4G and other levers, to be described. At anintermediate position on each lever 40, and on the same side edge as thelatching face 52, is .a cam follower '59 which cooperates with theaforementioned cam 60, in accomplishing punch lever operating andresetting movements. A toe extension 64 adjacent the lower end of eachlever 40 on the same side as the cam follower 59 has a bottom impactsurface 66 and constitutes and will be referred to as a hammer. Thehammers 64 of all punch operating levers 49 are aligned in a fore andaft arrangement and are spaced above the upper side'of a punch and dieassembly 79, each punch operating lever 40 having a strong biasingspring 68 connected between the lever and a fixed anchor on the machineframe to urge the levers 40 in a clockwise direction (FIGURE 1).

Lever mounting rod 58 pivotally carries at least two additional levers,a feed hole punch lever 72' approximately centered in the group ofoperating levers 4t} and a tape feed lever 74 located 'at the rear ofthe group of punch operating levers 40 (see FIGURE 1) and to be laterspecifically described. The feed hole punch lever 72 is similar to thepunch operating levers 40 in that it includes an apertured lower end, acam follower 76 and a toe extension hammer 78 shaped identically to thecorresponding par-ts of the punch operating levers; however, the feedhole punch lever 72 differs from a code punch lever in that itterminates just above its cam follower 76 and does not have a latchingend.

With reference now to FIGURES 1 and 10, the aforementioned cycle cam 60is non-rotatably fixed on a rotatable cam shaft 80 which is jonrnalledin the machine frame wall 32 and projects forwardly under the right handgroup of selector magnets 12. The rear end of cam shaft 80 is secured tothe driven member 81 of a friction clutch 82, the driving member ofwhich has a gear tooth periphery 84 meshed with a spur gear 86 securedon the end of the drive shaft 38 of an electric motor 90. During machineoperation, motor 90 will be operating to continuously rotate the clutchdriving member gear 84 at a desired speed. The driven member 81 of theclutch is mechanically blocked by a latching means (not shown) which ismagnetically released to permit rotation of the cam shaft 80 uponenergization of an electro-magnet coil 92 (see FIGURE 11) by a startsignal impulse from the reperforator receiving mechanism 11. The clutchdriven member 81 and hence the cam shaft 80 is blocked and the blockingmeans relatched after a rotation of 180. Detail structure of a suitablemultiple step clutch can be found in copending application Serial No.748,019, new Patent No. 3,051,377 wherein a six step clutch blockingmeans and resetting latch means is described.

Cam 60 is a double lobe, axially elongate, external cam having itscamming surfaces rotatable in a path adjacent to and common to all ofthe punch operating levers 40 and feed punch lever 72. In other words,identical camming action can be imparted by cam 60* to all punchoperating levers, dependent, of course, upon whether they have beenselected for punching operation, during one half revolution of the camshaft, the same camrning action then being repeated throughout theremaining 180 extent, during the next cam cycle. The machine startposition, at which time cam 60 is stationary, is depicted in FIGURES 1and wherein it will be seen that a high dwell 96 of cam 60 is engagedwith the cam followers 59 of all punch operating levers 40 and with thecam follower 75 of feed punch operating lever 72 to mechanicallymaintain all of the levers 40 and 72 in a counterclockwise directionagainst spring bias. In this condition all of the punch operating levers40 are mechanically held by cam 60 be yond a latched position, resultingin the aforedescribed .005 to .010" clearance between the lever latchingfaces 52 and the armature latching fingers 42 and 50.

The aforedescribed relationship of components, upon the machinesreceiving an electrical code impulse combination plus a start signalimpulse from the selector mechanism, will result in energization ofselected ones of the punch selector magnets 12 and of the start magnet92. Such energized selector magnets 12 will raise their associatedarmatures 26 and/or 28 away from a position of potential latching orblocking engagement with the ends 44 of associated punch levers 40. Anyelectro-magnet 12 which does not receive an energizing electricalimpulse from selector 11, of course, will not attract and raise itsassociated armature 26 (and/or 28) which thus will remain in a positioncapable of latching respective associated punch operating levers 40 whenthe cam 60 rotates away from start position.

Simultaneously with the raising of selected armatures, the driven member31 of the slipping friction clutch 82 is magnetically released and isdriven by clutch 82 in a clockwise direction motion through gears 84 and86 connected to motor 90 to rotate cam shaft 80 and cam 60. Cam 60,rotating clockwise, shifts its high dwell 96 out of interference withthe protruding points on the selecting lever cam followers 59 therebyallowing the selected punch levers to rotate clockwise under bias bysprings 63. The abrupt nature of the high dwell cutoif provides a snaprotation of the selected punch levers 40 to create an impact through thelever hammer heads 64 on associated punching components now to bedescribed.

The punch and die assembly 70 utilizes steel balls for punches ratherthan the conventional matched cylindrical punch and cylindrical die ofprior art reperforators. Assembly 70 consists of a lower die plate i100,upper guide plate 102, steel die insent 104, steel balls 106 and 107 andimpact transfer members 108 and 109. The die plate 100 and guide plate102 are secured in a conventional manner (not shown) to the machineframe to provide a horizontal tape guide slot through which the messagetape 110 is stepped by feed mechanism to be hereinafter described.

Upper guide plate 102 has formed therein a fore and aft aligned row ofvertical punch guide holes 114 and 115 vertically disposed below thehammers 64 and 78 of punch operating levers 40 and feed punch operatinglever 72. Within each guide hole 114 is a close but freely fitted one ofthe punch balls 106 and a close but freely fitted one of the cylindricalsteel impact transfer members 103. Guide hole 115 is for the tape feedhole punch ball 107 and impact transfer member 109, hence the hole, withthe ball and impact transfer member, is smaller in diameter than thecorresponding code hole punching components.

As seen in FIGURES 1 and 5-8, the upper ends of the impact transfermembers project above the upper surface of the guide plate 102 and inthe machine start position (FIGURES 5, 7 and 8) are spaced with a slightclearance just below the hammers 64 and 78' of the punch levers 40 and72. A tape 110 passing through the die assembly slot acts in a cammingmanner on the curved surfaces of the balls and will hold the smalllightweight punch balls and their associated impact members in whatmight effectively be termed a floating disposition within their guideholes under the hammer ends of the punch operating levers.

A portion of the die plate 100 immediately below the guide holes 114-and 115 has an elongate fore and aft recess 118 within which is locatedthe die insert 104 hav ing its upper surface coextensive with the uppersurface of the die plate 100. Die insert 104 can be accurately locatedwithin recess r118 by locator pins, such as pin 120 (FIGURE 3), and issecured by means such as screws (not shown). A fore and aft aligned setof vertically disposed die holes 122 and 123 are provided through thedie insert 104 in respective vertical coaxial alignment with theassociated guide holes 114 and 115 in the guide plate 102 and die hole123, being for the feed hole ball punch 107, is smaller than die holes122. A description of one die hole 122 will suffice for all die holes.

The cutting edge of a die hole 122 is a sharp circular edge formed bythe flat upper surface of the steel die insert and a short extent 124 ofcylindrical vertical wall at the upper end of hole 122. Below the shortextent 124 of the vertical wall the hole 122 is enlarged to permit readyescape of the tape punchings or chad which fall through larger throughopenings 128 in the die plate 100 below the die insert 104. Aconventional chad drawer or chad removal device (not shown) will enabledisposal of chad falling through the die plate 100.

Die holes 122 and 123 are sufiiciently smaller in diameter than theirassociated steel punch balls 106 and 107 so the balls will not enter theholes a distance sufiicient to enable the balls to bind within the holecutting edges. When a tape .110 is disposed between the ball punch 106and die hole 122, an impact (e.'g., an approximately 25 pound punch blowhas been utilized, approximately 12 pounds of which is used, with astandard thickness message tape, to push the ball the final .004 inch topunch the hole) by an associated punch lever 40 on the impact transfermember 108 will cause the impact force from the punch lever to push thesteel ball 106 down against the die hole circular cutting edge 125 whichcuts a clean perforation in the tape 11! FIGURE 3 illustrates the ballas it starts the actual perforating of the tape.-

Tape feed occurs approximately midway of a cycle of punch and resetoperation and is occasioned by a double lobed tape feed lever cam 13%rigidly secured on cam shaft 80 to rotate with the punch cam 60. Feedcam 139 shifts the aforementioned tape feed lever 74 which operates atape feed ratchet 134 to index a tape feed sprocket 135 one feed stepduring each punch operation cycle.

Feed ratchet 134 and feed sprocket 136 are non-rotatably secured on ashaft .138 which is journalled in the machine frame with its axis ofrotation parallel and normal to the tape feed path at the exit side ofthe die plate 109. Peripheral pins 141) on the feed sprocket 136 engagethe tape feed holes in the tape 110 just past the exit edge of the dieplate The tape feed lever 74, as

. described, is pivoted on the same rod 58 as the punch operating leversand has two arms, one upstanding arm 142 having an anvil end 144 servingas a cam follower riding on the tape feed cam 130. A feed lever biasingspring 146 connects to arm 142 and to a frame anchor (not shown) to urgethe feed lever 74 into engagement with cam 130.

The lower feed lever arm 148 extends horizontally over the feed ratchet134 and is adjustably fastened by an eccentric screw to a pawl carrierlink 152 which has one end fitted on rod 58 adjacent the feed lever 74.The link 152 is, in effect, an extension of the lower horizontal feedlever arm 148 and at its free end pivotally' mounts a depending pawl 154which is resiliently urged into engagement with the teeth of the feedratchet 134 by a pawl biasing spring 156. Positive clockwise rotation ofthe tape feed lever 74 by the feed cam 130 will shiftthe pawl 154downwardly to move the tape feed ratchet 134 and the tape feed sprocket136 one step ,(one tape feed space). When the high dwell 158 of feed cam130 rotate-s out of engagement with the feed lever anvil end 144, thefeed lever biasing spring 146 urges feed lever 74 clockwise to shift thepawl back over the ratchet teeth to a position in engagement with thenext tooth on the feed ratchet 134. The eccentric screw 150 enables afine adjustment to the feed pawl drive engagement stroke to assure thatthe feed step does not begin until punch lever pressure on the impacttransfer levers 108 is released by initiation of punch lever resetmovement.

To assure a precise and crisp stepping of tape 119 a detent 164 heldagainst a detent wheel 166 non-rotatably secured on the feed sprocketshaft 138 by spring 16% is utilized. Also, to assure that the tape 110is cleanly stepped and that no slipping occurs between the pins 140 onthe feed sprocket 136 and the tape 110, a lever 17% and grooved pressureroller 172 arrangement is used and held against the tape 1 10 by aspring 174. This keeps the :tape 110 tightly against the feed sprocket136 and allows pins 140 to perform their stepping feed functionsproperly on the tape.

Operation high dwell 96 of cam 60, which is holding all operating levers49 in reset position, rotates away from engagevment with the camfollowers 59 of the punch operating levers 4t} and feed hole punch lever72, any code punch operating lever which is not blocked by an unselectedarmature selector lever 26 and/or 28 will be snapped clockwise by thesprings 68 This snap action causes the cs code operating lever hammerss4 of the selected levers 46 to strike the associated floating impacttransfer mem: bers 1G8 housed in guide plate 102 which in turn engagethe associated floating steel punch balls 106, 107 causing the leverforce to push the balls down through the tape 119 against the associateddie cutting edges 125, thereby punching the proper code holes in tape110. By utilizing non-biased floating impact members rather than springbiased members, there is no bias spring force to over come duringpunching. a

Simultaneously with code hole punch lever operation, cam 6% alsooperates the feed hole punch lever 72 which, having no electro-magnet orany other selecting device, is non-selective and therefore performs itspunching operation once during each cycle of operation, i.e., once forevery one-half rotation of dual cam at}. All punching operations andessentially complete lever reset movements occur during a one-quarterrevolution of cam. 60 from start positions, as will be apparent from theshape of cam 61 in FIGURE 10 wherein the major portion of the cam risebetween low and high dwell occurs within the after the drop-off from thehigh dwell.

The .feed hole punch lever 72, like the code hole punch levers 4%, isbiased by one of, the springs 63 in a clockwise direction and it, too,punches and is essentially reset in the first quarter of a revolution ofcam 60.

As cam 60 continues its clockwise rotation, the second sloping riseengages the followers '59 on operating levers 4e, camrning them CCWuntil the top portions 44 of the code levers 4% 9316 once again inposition (accomplished this time by the second high dwell 96') to belatched or blocked by any unselected armature latches 26 and/ or 28 ofthe now de-energized selector magnets 12. The punch operating levers 40at this stage are again in reset position and the feed hole punch lever72 is again ready to operate.

As will now be seen in consecutive FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, cam 60 during onecycle of operation passes through one-half (180) of a complete (360)revolution from the unselected position (FIGURE 5) to the selectedpunching position (FIGURE 6) and finally to the code lever resetposition (FIGURE 7).

After the code punching and feed hole punching members have completedtheir punch and initial reset operation, approximately 45 of camrotation, cam 60, of course, continues to rotate clockwise to complete a180 rotation. During the intermediate portion of the (180) operationcycle the tape feed lever 74 is shifted CCW to cause pawl 154, which isheld against the tape feed ratchet 134 by spring 156, to move downwardengaging a tooth of the tape feed ratchet 134 and indexing the ratchet134 one position. The tape feed sprocket 136, rotated in conjunctionwith the ratchet 134, is thus indexed one position by the tape feedingmechanism to step the tape one space.

During the last one-quarter revolution of the operating cycle the tapefeed mechanism will be reset as the lobe 158 of cam clears the tape feedlever 72. This causes the lever 72 to move clockwise again, pulling thepawl 154 upward, causing it to ride over a tooth in the tape feedratchet 134, thus positioning the pawl 154 for the next tape feedingoperation.

An instant later the next incoming code signal group is received and theselector magnets 12 are again enertgized, thus sending the machinethrough another punching and tape feeding cycle.

The foregoing discloses and describes an improved ball type perforatorproposed to be utilized in particular in telegraphic code typereperforators, and also adapted for other similar perforating operationswherein coded electrical signal combinations are received and, throughanovel selecting mechanism, transferred into coded perforations on amessage tape. The perforator utilizes hall punch and impact transferpunching components of small mas-s, requiring no retract biasing springsand thereby 9 enabling rapid punching without waste force necessary toovercome an opposing spring force on punch components.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential character istics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theap pended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and 911changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

{1. A multiple hole perforator machine comprising: a plurality ofselectively operable ball type punch and die means; hammer means, atleast equal in number to said punch means, individual to each punchmeans and adapted to impart momentary impact punching forces toassociated punch means during a cycle of machine operation; power meansfor operating said hammer means; and a plurality of two positionoperable means adapted in one direction to engage and block the hammeroperation of, and selectively operable to the second position to unblockand permit operation of, selected hammer means enabling such selectedhammer means to impart said momentary impact punching forces toassociated punch means.

2. A multiple hole perforator machine comprising: a plurality ofselectively operable ball type punch and die means; hammer means, atleast equal in number to said punch means, individual to each punchmeans and adapted to impart momentary impact punching forces toassociated punch means during a cycle of machine operation; power meansfor operating said hammer means; and operable means comprising aplurality of electro-magnets with spring-biased armature levers adapted,when the magnets are de-energized, to be positioned to engage and blockthe hammer operation of associated hammer means, and selectivelyoperable upon energization of associated magnets to a position whichunblocks and thereby permits operation of associated selected hammermeans, enabling such selected hammer means to impart said momentaryimpact punching forces to associated punch means.

3. A record medium perforator adapted to punch holes in a fiat, thinrecord medium comprising: i erforati-ng means consisting of multiplepunch means and correlated multiple die means; means adapted to engageand feed the record medium through said perforating means; a pluralityof operating means, for associated said punch means, spring biased in adirection to engage and drive by an impact force a portion of said punchmeans through the record medium against associated said die means; meansmaintaining said punch operating means against spring bias in a positionout of engagement with associated said punch means; means including saidmaintain ing means for selectively releasing the punch operating means;means for replacing said punch operating means to a position out ofengagement with said punch means; means operable subsequent to releaseof said punch operating means to operate sm'd record medium feed means;and means comprisng the structural shape of the punching portion of saidpunch means and the body of said record medium, operative upon a feedmovement of the record medium after punching, to return the punchingportion of said selected operated punch means to a prepunching position.

4. A record medium perforator adapted to punch holes in a record mediumcomprising: perforating means consisting of multiple punch means andcorrelated multiple die means; means adapted to engage and feed therecord medium through said perforating means; a plurality of individualoperating means, for associated said punch means, spring biased in adirect-ion to engage and drive a portion of said punch means through therecord medium against associated said die means; means comprising acyclically operated rotatable cam with a high dwell :for

1Q engaging and maintaining said punch operating means against springbias and out of engagement with associated said punch means, punchingcontrol means including selectively actuatable devices for selectivelyblocking and unblocking punch operation of said individual operatingmeans and a sharp cam surface drop from said high dwell for cyclicallyreleasing the punch operating means, and further cam surface means onsaid cam for replacing said punch operating means to a position out ofengagement with said punch means; and means operable between releaserand replacement of said punch operating means to operate said recordmedium feed means for feeding said record medium relative to theperforating means.

5.v A record medium perforator adapted to punch holes in a flat, thinrecord medium comprising: perforating means consisting of multiple punchmeans and correlated multiple die means; means adapted to engage andfeed the record medium through said perforating means; a plurality ofoperating means, for associated said punch means, spring biased in adirection to engage and drive a portion of said punch means through therecord medium against associated said die means; means comprising acyclically operated rotatable cam with a high dwell for engaging andmaintaining said punch operating means against spring bias and out ofengagement with associated said punch means, punching control meansincluding a sharp cam surface drop from said high dwell for sele-ctively releasing the punch operating means, and further cam surfacemeans on said cam for engaging and replacing said punch operating meansto a position out of engagement with said punch means; means operablesubsequent to release of said punch operating means to operate saidrecord medium feed means; and means comprising the structural shape ofthe punching portion of said punch means and the body of said recordmedium, operative upon a feed movement of said record medium afterpunching, to return the punching portion of said selected operated punchmeans to a pre-punching position.

6. A record medium perforator as defined in claim 5, wherein said meansfor selectively releasing the punch operating means further comprises aplurality of selectively energizable electro-magnets with armature latchdevices for blocking spring biased punching operation of individualassociated punch operating means excepting when an associatedelectro-magnet is energized.

7. A record medium perforator adapted to punch holes in a flat, thinrecord medium comprisin perforating means consisting of multiple steelball and impact transfer member punch means and correlated multiplecircular hole die means; means adapted to engage and feed the recordmedium through said perforating means; a plurality of operating hammersfor impacting impact transfer members of associated said punch means,springs biasing said hammers in a direction to drive said steel ballsthrough the record medium against the circular edges of associated saiddie means; means maintaining said punch operating hammers against springbias in a position out of engagement with associated said impactmembers; means including said maintaining means for selectivelyreleasing the punch operating hammers; means for replacing said punchoperating hammers to a position out of engagement with said impactmembers; means operable subsequent to release and during initialreplacement movement of said punch operating hammers to operate saidrecord medium feed means; and means comprising the curved surface ofsaid steel balls and the body of said record medium, operative upon afeed movement of said record medium after punching, to return the steelballs and associated impact members of said selected operated punchmeans to a pre-punching position.

8. A perforating apparatus comprising: a die means having a plurality ofcircular die holes provided therein and a flat upper surface enabling athin flat record medium to be passed over said die means; a punch guidedevice disposed above said die means including a plurality of a 11"vertical punch guide means aligned above each die hole; a steel ballpunch disposed for vertical shifting movement within each of said guidemeans in coaxial alignment with its associated die hole; an impacttransfer means freely slidably disposed in each said guide means abovethe associated said punch; feed means adapted to cooperate with a recordmedium and laterally shift the record medium between said die means andsaid guide device; a plurality of pivotally mounted, spring biased punchoperating levers mounted for independent operation above associated saidimpact transfer means; each of said operating levers having an impactdevice thereon adapted to engage an associated impact transfer means andforce said transfer means and steel ball punch down into engagement withthe edge of the associated circular die hole; a plurality of shiftablelatch devices, each of which is adapted to engage an associated saidpunch operating lever to retain said punch operating lever againstspring bias out of engagement with the associated impact transfer means;operating devices for each of said latch devices adapted to beselectively actuated to selectively shift said latch devices to permitthe associated said punch operating. levers to be operatively shiftedunder spring bias to accomplish a punching operation; and power meansmaintaining said punch operating levers in a cocked position againstspring bias for cyclically enabling movement of said levers under springbias, operating said feed means, and resetting said punch operatinglevers to cocked position.

9. A perforating apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said operatingdevices are selectively energizable electro-magnets and said shiftablelatch devices comprise spring biased pivoted lever-type armatures oneach of said electro-magnets shiftable against spring bias uponenergization of an associated electro-magnet.

10. A perforating apparatus, as defined in claim 9, wherein all of saidpunch operating levers associated with said electro-magnets areidentical, a common shaft pivotally mounts all punch operating levers,all punch operating levers are urged under spring bias in a commondirection, and each of said punch operating levers associated with saidelectro-nagnets has a latching face at the free end which is adapted toengage and cause the lever to be latched by the associated latch leverarmature of a non-selected, de-energized electro-magnet whenever saidpower means is cyclically operated to enable movement of said punchoperating levers under the force of spring bias.

11. A perforating apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said punchselecting levers are closely spaced in side by side relationship, saidelectro-magnets include flat bridges and flat coil windings and arearranged in two laterally spaced apart groups above the latching ends ofsaid punch operating levers, one of said groups being disposed on oneside of said punch operating levers and the other of said groups beingdisposed on the opposite side of said punch operating levers, thearmature latch levers of one group of electro-magnets having hookedlatching ends to engage the associated latching face of said punchoperating levers, and the armature latch levers of the other group of'electro-magnets having blocking abutment fingers adapted to be disposedimmediately in the path of movement in front of the latching faces ofassociated punch operating levers.

12. A perforating apparatus as defined in claim 9 constituting a messagetape code perforator wherein: the record medium is a tape; one set ofsaid circular die holes, punch guide means, steel ball punches andimpact transfer means constitutes a tape, feed hole punch and die; theremaining sets of die holes, punch guide means, steel ball punches andimpact transfer means constitute code hole punch and die sets; eachpunch and die set has associated therewith a said spring biased punchoperating lever; and only said code hole punch and die sets haveassociated therewith a shiftable latch device and anassociated'selectively actuatable operating device whereby the punchoperating lever will be operated during each cycle of machine operationto cause its said associated punch and die set to punch a feed hole inthe tape.

13. A high speed multiple punching apparatus with a plurality ofindividual hole punch and die sets, means to operate selected punch anddie sets comprising an in dividual hammer device for each said set,power means for engaging and enabling operation of all hammer devicesthrough a cycle consisting of means providing a powered rapid operatingmovement of selected hammer devices to impart a sharp momentary impactforces to an associated punch of a punch and die set and means resettingall hammer devices to cocked position, and a plurality of selectivelyoperable shiftable latch means adapted, when not shifted, to be engagedby associated said hammer devices to prevent hammer device operationupon snap release by said power means, and when operatively shifted, topermit full snap release of any associated hammer device.

14. A record medium perforator adapted to punch holes in a record mediumcomprising: perforating means consisting of multiple punch means andcorrelated multiple die means; means adapted to engage and feed therecord medium through said perforating means; a plurality of individualoperating means, for associated said punch means, spring biased in adirection to engage and drive a portion of said punch means through therecord medium against associated said die means; means comrising acyclically operable rotatable cam with a high dwell for engaging andmaintaining said punch operating means against spring bias and out ofengagement with associated said punch means, punching control meansincluding selectively actuatable devices for selectively blocking andunblocking punch operations of said individual operating means, and asharp cam surface drop from said high dwell for cyclically releasing thepunch operating means, and further cam surface means on said cam forreplacing said punch operating means to a position out of engagementwith said punch means.

15. A record medium perforator adapted to punch holes in a flat, thinrecord medium comprising: perforating means consisting of multiple steelball and impact transfer member punch means and correlated multiplecircular hole die means; means adapted to engage and feed the recordmedium through said perforating means; a plurality of operating hammersfor impact transfer members of associated said punch means, springsbiasing said hammers in a direction to drive said steel ball through therecord medium against the circular edges of associated said die means;means maintaining said punch operating hammers against spring bias in aposition out of engagement with associated said impact members; meansincluding said maintaining means for selectively releasing the punchoperating hammer; means for replacing said punch operating hammers to aposition out of engagement with said impact hammers; and meanscomprising the curve surface of said steel balls and the bodies of saidrecord medium, operative upon a feed movement of said record mediumafter punching, to return the steel balls and associated impact membersof said selected operating punch means to a pre-punching position.

16. A multiple hole perforator machine comprising: a plurality ofselectively operable ball type punch means and die means; spring-biasedhammer means including a plurality of pivoted levers at least equal innumber to said punch means, each lever having a hammer portion adaptedto be shifted by the bias force of its spring means to engage and imparta momentary punching impact force to an associated punch means during acycle of machine operation; power means including a motor driven shaft,a cyclically actuated rotatable cam shaft, means including a blockablefriction clutch connecting said motor shaft to said cam shaft forstarting and stopping said cam shaft, and a cam non-rotatably secured onsaid cam shaft, said cam being shaped to engage and maintain all hammerlevers out of punching disposition against spring bias While saidfriction clutch is blocked from transmitting rotation to said cam shaft,then to simultaneously enable all hammer levers to be shifted underspring bias toward a punch actuating position and then to reset allhammer levers to their inactive position when rotated through a cycle ofoperation; operable means adapted to engage and prevent operation of,and selectively operable to permit operation of, selected hammer leversenabling such selected hammer levers to impact said momentary impactpunching forces to associated punch means, said operable means, when notselectively operated, being disposed to prevent full movement ofassociated hammer levers to a punch operating position; and means tocoordinate actuation of said cltuch means and selected ones of saidoperable means responsive to receipt of signal information.

17. A high speed multiple punch perforating apparatus with a pluralityof individual separably operable hole punch and die sets; means tooperate selected punch and die sets comprising an individual hammer foreach punch device shiftable between a reset position and a position forimpacting the punch of each said set, power means for operating allhammer devices through a cycle consisting of a plurality of selectivelyoperable means enabling powered impact movement of associated hammerdevices, and means providing a return of all hammer devices to resetposition, said powered impact movement of a hammer device forcing theassociated punch and die set into a punching condition; and meanscomprising the punch portions of any impact operated punch and die set,the perforation edge of a perforated record medium and record mediumfeed means for shifting the punch portions of any impact operated punchand die set away from engagement with its associated die portion.

18. A multiple punch record medium perforator adapted to punch holes ina fiat, thin record medium comprising: perforating means consisting of aplurality of individual, separately operable steel ball and impacttransfer member punch means and correlated multiple hole die means withcircular edge formations; means adapted to engage and feed a recordmedium through said perforating means; a plurality of selectivelyoperable spring biased punch operating means for impacting impacttransfer members of associated said punch means in a direction to drivesaid steel balls through a record medium against the circular edgeformation of associated said die means, said punch operating means beingnormally maintained in a position out of engagement with associated saidimpact members; means including portions of each of said plurality ofspring biased punch operating means enabling replacement of all saidpunch operating means to a position out of engagement with said transfermembers and means comprising the steel ball punch portion of any impactoperated punch means, the associated perforated edge of the perforatedflat thin record medium and said record medium feed means for shiftingthe steel balls of any impact operated punch means away from engagementwith its associated die means.

19. A multiple punch perforator capable of perforating a record withdata items in columns transverse to record movement, said record beingadapted to be moved past a perforating station, comprising: a frame; apair of spaced members mounted on said frame and forming a channelthrough which said record is moved columnwise; a plurality of elements,each having at least a hemispherical portion, and each mounted within afirst of said members for reciprocal movement in a straight path to movesaid hemi-spherical portion into and out of contact with the othermember; means, including said hemispherical portions of said elementsand said record, enabling said elements to be moved in said straightpath out of contact with said other member by unperforated portions ofsaid record as said record passes through said channel; a plurality ofimpact imparting means for selectively driving said elements and anunperforated portion of a record in said channel into contact with saidother member including a plurality of solenoids operative ly,individually associated with respective ones of said plurality of impactmeans; and means on said other member cooperating with said selectivelydriven elements to effect a line of contact disposed on a true circlewhereby the record therebetween is perforated.

20. A perforating apparatus comprising: a die means having a pluralityof die holes having circular form edges provided therein and a fiatupper surface enabling a thin flat record medium to be passed over saiddie means; a punch guide device disposed above said die means includinga plurality of vertical punch guide means aligned above each die hole; asteel ball punch disposed for vertical shifting movement within each ofsaid guide means in coaxial alignment with its associated die hole; animpact transfer means mounted for shifting movement in said guide meansabove the associated said steel ball punch; feed means adapted tocooperate with a record medium and laterally shift the record mediumbetween said die means and said guide device; a plurality of springbiased punch operating members mounted for independent operation aboveassociated said impact transfer means; each of said operating membershaving an impact device thereon adapted to move and impact an associatedimpact transfer means and force said transfer means and steel ball punchdown into engagement with the edge of the associated circular die hole;operating means comprising said spring biased members and associatedselectively energizable electro-magnets enabling each of said operatingmembers to be selectively actuated to selectively rapidly shift saidpunch operating members to accomplish a punching operation and resettingsaid punch operating levers to cocked position; all of said punchoperating members associated with said electro-magnets being identicaland all punch operating members being urged under spring bias in acommon direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,392,275 Tholstrup J an. 1, 1946 2,675,078 Zinner Apr. 13, 19542,845,122 Lake et al July 29, 1958 2,850,093 DAngelo et al Sept. 2, 19582,980,320 La Pointe .Apr. 18, 1961

1. A MULTIPLE HOLE PERFORATOR MACHINE COMPRISING: A PLURALITY FSELECTIVELY OPERABLE BAL TYPE PUNCH AND DIE MEANS; HAMMER MEANS, ATLEAST EQUAL IN NUMBER TO SAID PUNCH MEANS, INDIVIDUALT TO EACH PUNCHMEANS AND ADAPTED TO IMPART MOMENTARY IMPACT PUNCHING FORCES TOASSOCIATED PUNCH MEANS DURING A CYCLE OF MACHINE OPERATION; POWER MEANSFOR OPERATING SAID HAMMER MEANS; AND A PLURALITY OF TWO POSITIONOPERABLE MEANS ADAPTED IN ONE DIRECTION OF ENGAGE AND BLOCK THE HAMMEROPERATION OF AND SELECTIVELY OPERABLE TO THE SECOND POSITION TO UNBLOCKAND PERMIT OPERATION OF, SELECTED HAMMER MEANS ENABLING SUCH SELECTEDHAMMER MEANS TO IMPART SAID MOMENTARY IMPACE PUNCHING FORCES TOASSOCIATED PUNCH MEANS.